This contribution to Digital Stories Canada is a collection of memories from the 1990s and the first decade of the new millennium in Vancouver's historic West End. A small group of artists, who practiced their media during this time, used their neighborhood and the exploration of a queer lifestyle as inspiration.

Jerome Mandrake has been a resident of the West End for twenty years (minus a three-year stint in East Vancouver). As a performer, he has organized events throughout the West End and worked closely with the Vancouver Pride Society as a headliner. Currently, Jerome works in elementary education in the West End.

Spencer Stump is a graduate of the Vancouver Film School and has lived in the West End since 2014. He currently works as a prop maker in film and has also brought his talents to the stage, where he was crowned Vancouver’s Next Drag Superstar at Celebrities Nightclub in 2014. Spencer has showcased his drag performances throughout the city and is a familiar face at LGBTQ+ events in the West End.

Quinn Peters has been performing as a drag artist and hosting events in the city since 2010. He is known in the community not only for his performance art but also for his volunteer work with the Pride Society, YouthCo, and Qmunity. As a staff member of the Queer Film Festival, PuSh Festival, and Positive Living, Quinn has met many residents and learned many stories that make up our West End community over the course of his career.

Michael Pope is a fashion design instructor who lived in Vancouver's West End from 1988 to 1994. He began with fashion illustrations in his youth and has been working professionally in the field for 26 years.

Photos, editing, and recording by Jerome Mandrake. Produced by Lorna Boschman.